Shrub rose plant named ‘Radsouththree’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct shrub rose plant is provided that abundantly forms attractive single dark pink blossoms that finish to a coral red coloration. The plant exhibits vigorous vegetation and a compact and bushy growth habit. The foliage is dark green with a glossy upper surface. The dark pink blossom coloration contrasts nicely with the dark green foliage. The disease resistance is excellent, particularly with respect to black spot, rust, and mildews. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Radsouththree.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida landscape shrub rose plant of thepresent invention was created at Greenfield, Wis., U.S.A. The seed thatproduced the new variety of landscape shrub rose was obtained by thecross of unreleased and unnamed breeding plants (each non-patented inthe United States) of unknown origin. No further definitive informationconcerning the identity of the parents is available.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Landscape Shrub rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly forms attractive single dark pink blossoms having        yellow centers that finish to a coral red coloration,    -   (b) exhibits a compact and bushy growth habit,    -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,    -   (d) forms attractive dark green foliage that is glossy on the        upper surface and contrasts well with the blossom coloration,    -   (e) exhibits excellent disease resistance particularly with        respect to black spot, rust, and mildews, and    -   (f) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in        the landscape.

A new rose variety is provided having attractive single dark pinkblossoms with yellow centers that finish to a coral red colorationcombined with substantially continuous blooming, a compact growth habit,and excellent disease resistance.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape. The dark pinkflower coloration combined with the glossy dark green foliage isparticularly attractive.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom other shrub rose plants including the ‘Sprothrive’ variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 23,549) through an inspection of the blossoms. Forinstance, the single blossoms of dark pink coloration of the new varietyare dissimilar to the dark red blossoms of the ‘Sprothrive’ variety.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Wasco, Calif.,U.S.A., to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible byasexual propagation, such as budding, grafting, and the rooting ofcuttings from one generation to another. The new variety reproduces in atrue-to-type manner by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Radsouththree’, and will be marketedunder the FRUIT PUNCH trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical blossoms and foliage of the new variety. The illustrated roseplants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and wereobserved during May while growing outdoors on their own roots at WestGrove, Pa., U.S.A.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995 Edition or equivalent),London, England. The description is based on the observation oftwo-year-old specimens of the new variety during October while growingoutdoors on their own roots at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose. Cultivar Radsouththree.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 3 feet on average, and commonly            approximately 3 feet on average at full maturity.        -   Width.—Approximately 60 cm on average, and commonly            approximately 90 to 120 cm on average at full maturity.        -   Habit.—Compact and bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Near Green Group 138A on young stems, and commonly            near Green Group 137C commonly with some patches of rough            wood that are near Grey-Brown Group 199A.        -   Thorns.—Size: when young commonly approximately 6 mm in            length and approximately 4 mm in width at the widest point,            and when mature commonly approximately 1 cm in length, and            approximately 5 mm in width at the widest point. Color:            commonly near Red-Purple Group 58A when young, and near            Greyed-Green Group 197C when mature.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Commonly approximately 8.5 cm in length on average and            approximately 7.5 cm in width on average for a five-leaflet            leaf.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7. Length: lower leaflet length            is approximately 3.3 cm on average; terminal leaflet length            is approximately 5 cm on average when there are 3 leaflets,            approximately 4.5 cm on average when there are 5 leaflets,            and approximately 3.5 cm on average when there are 7            leaflets. Width: approximately 3 cm on average for a            terminal leaflet, and approximately 2.3 cm on average for a            lower leaflet. Shape: ovate. Margins: serrate. Texture:            generally smooth on the upper and under surfaces. Overall            appearance: attractive dark green leaves with a glossy upper            surface. Color: (when young): Upper surface: near Green            Group 137C commonly with a margin of Red-Purple Group 60A.            Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C. Color (when            fully mature): Upper surface: near Green Group 139A. Under            surface: near Green Group 137B.        -   Rachis.—Color: near Green Group 137C overlaid with            Red-Purple Group 60A. Texture: smooth and covered in a small            amount of flexible thorns measuring less than 2 mm in length            on average.        -   Petiole.—Color: near Green Group 137C overlaid with            Red-Purple Group 60A. Texture: smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly one per stem or approximately 3            to 10 blooms in a cluster.        -   Peduncle.—Near Green Group 138A in coloration, commonly            approximately 3.5 cm in length on average, approximately 2            mm in diameter on average, smooth in texture, and commonly            covered with small flexible thorns less than 1 mm in length.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: covered with short pubescence, and            commonly near Green Group 138B in coloration. Under surface:            commonly somewhat rough in texture, and commonly near Green            Group 143C in coloration. Size: commonly approximately 3 cm            in length on average, and approximately 8 mm in width at the            base. Extensions: commonly with three extensions per sepal            measuring approximately 5 mm in length. Number five.        -   Buds.—Shape: generally ovoid. Length: approximately 2.5 mm            on average as the calyx breaks. diameter: approximately 1.8            cm on average as the calyx breaks. Color: when opening            commonly near Yellow-Group 13A transitioning to Orange-Red            Group 34B towards the base.        -   Flower.—Form: single, cuplike. Diameter: commonly            approximately 8 cm on average when fully open. Color (when            opening): Upper surface: near Yellow Group 12A at the point            of attachment, transitioning to Orange-Red Group 31B, and            finally near Red Group 46C towards the apex. Under surface:            near Yellow Group 3B at the point of attachment blending to            Red Group 51B towards the apex. Color (at end of blooming):            Upper surface: near Yellow Group 12B at the point of            attachment, transitioning to Red Group 51D, and finally near            Red-Purple 66A towards the apex. Under surface: Yellow Group            4C at the point of attachment blending to Red-Purple Group            59D towards the apex. Fragrance: none noticeable. Petal            number: commonly 5 under normal growing conditions. Petal            length: commonly approximately 4.5 cm on average. Petal            width: commonly approximately 4.8 cm on average. Petal            shape: broadly obcordate. Petal margin: entire. Petal apex:            obcordate. Petal base: cuneate Petal drop: good, the petals            commonly detach cleanly and freely drop upon full maturity.            Stamen number approximately 82 on average. Anthers: commonly            near Greyed-Yellow Group 162A in coloration. Filaments:            approximately 8 mm in length, and the coloration commonly is            near Yellow-Orange Group 14B. Pollen: commonly present in a            moderate quantity, and near Greyed-Yellow Group 162A in            coloration. Pistils: separate and free, and commonly number            approximately 15 on average. Styles: commonly covered with            short pubescence, commonly approximately 3 mm in length,            less than 1 mm in diameter, and near Yellow-Orange 19D in            coloration. Stigma: commonly approximately 1 mm in diameter,            and near Yellow Group 11A in coloration. Receptacle:            commonly ovoid in shape, approximately 7 mm in diameter,            smooth in texture, near Yellow-Green Group 144D overlaid            with Red-Purple Group 60A in coloration, and with achenes            commonly being present on the bottom and wall. Hips:            commonly formed in a moderate quantity, generally ovoid,            approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, and near Orange Group 25A            in coloration. Seeds: commonly approximately 6 mm in length,            approximately 3 mm in diameter, and near Greyed-Yellow Group            161A in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and commonly reflushes into late            summer.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent, particularly with respect            to black spot, rust and mildews.

Plants of the ‘Radsouththree’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Landscape Shrub rose plant characterizedby the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly formsattractive single dark pink blossoms having yellow centers that finishto a coral red coloration, (b) exhibits a compact and bushy growthhabit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) forms attractive dark greenfoliage that is glossy on the upper surface and contrasts well with theblossom coloration, (e) exhibits excellent disease resistanceparticularly with respect to black spot, rust, and mildews, and (f) iswell suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape;substantially as herein shown and described.